Cariann Hithon

The Washington Post's Fatal Force database records Cariann Hithon in a fatal on-duty police shooting on 2017-10-08 in Miami, FL. Individual circumstances and legal outcome require case-specific review.

What happened

Cariann Denise Hithon, 22, a Temple University student from Bowie, Maryland, was shot and killed by Miami Beach police on October 8, 2017, during a sequence of traffic collisions and an encounter with officers near Washington Avenue and 12th Street. Police said Hithon had driven a BMW through a red light, struck other vehicles and attempted to leave the crash scenes. As officers and bystanders gathered around her car, police said she accelerated and hit Officer David Cajuso, prompting another officer to fire. Bystander cellphone video captured portions of the incident. Hithon's father, Cary Hithon, a retired Navy captain, said his daughter had traveled to Miami Beach to celebrate her birthday and that the family lacked a full explanation of the events. Police and witnesses disagreed about the chaotic moments leading to the shooting. The fact of the collisions and the injury to an officer does not alone settle whether deadly force was necessary when shots were fired.

Investigation & findings

Individual legal and investigative outcome not yet reviewed.

What happened

Investigation & findings

Sources & records